THE FIRST ANNUAL INSPIRATION FILM FESTIVAL JURY AND AUDIENCE AWARD GOES TO MICHAEL GOORGIAN’S “ILLUSION”

The First Annual Inspiration Film Festival announced the winners of its Inspiration Awards Monday night at the closing ceremony poolside at the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey. Both the Jury and Audience Awards for the Best Feature Film were presented to Michael Goorjian for his film ILLUSION starring Kirk Douglas.

ILLUSION tells the story of legendary filmmaker Donald Baines (Kirk Douglas) who lies dying and now regrets his many personal sacrifices – most significantly his rejection of his illegitimate son Christopher (Michael A, Goorjian). His long-dead editor Stan, who shows him three chapters of the life of the son he never knew, magically visits Donald. From a teenage crush to his artistic 20’s to his mature adulthood, Christopher has always carried the painful cross of his father’s neglect. As events converge on the present day and hour, Donald is given one final opportunity to involve himself in a positive way in his son’s life. Is it real, or is it all just an illusion? ILLUSION previously won the Screenwriting Award at the 12th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival and the Audience Award at the 8th Annual Sonoma Valley Film Festival.

The Jury Award for Best Short was given to Toni Powell the writer and director of LOOKING GOOD, a live action short from Australia, which had it’s World Premiere at the festival. The Audience Award for Best Short went to another World Premiere, LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI, a live action short directed by Hidetoshi Oneda.

THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN took both the Audience and Jury Awards for Best Feature Documentary for its director, Taggart Siegel. THE REAL DIRT WITH FARMER JOHN is the epic tale of a maverick Mid-Western farmer. Castigated as a pariah in his community, Farmer John bravely transforms his farm amidst a failing economy, vicious rumors and arson. He succeeds in creating a bastion of free expression and a revolutionary form of agriculture in rural America where people and art thrive alongside agriculture. Previous awards for this moving documentary include the Reel Current Award, selected by Al Gore at the Nashville Film Festival as well as the Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary at the Slamdance Film Festival. The documentary has also garnered the Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary at the Chicago International Film Festival and both the Audience Award and Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary at the Wisconsin Film Festival.

The First Annual Inspiration Film Festival sponsored by Gaiam and launched in conjunction with the LOHAS 9 Forum, (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) celebrates films that inspire us, lift our spirits or transform our lives. We identify with an Inspiration Film’s characters on a deep, emotional level and are motivated by their stories to pursue positive change in our lives. An Inspiration Film honors the belief that simple choices can change the world and inspires us to make a difference.

Next years’ festival is scheduled for April 26 - 30, 2006 again in Santa Monica, California For more information about the Inspiration Film Festival visit: www.inspirationfilmfestival.com

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LOHAS 9 Forum is the ninth annual event that focuses on how business, media and entertainment can be leveraged to educate consumers that making purchasing decisions based on their personal values and beliefs can transform the world.